Sound recording machine



Jan. 12, 1932. H. "r. LEEMlNG souun RECORDING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1928 .3 /Z Z2 4; {Z0 15 i I a9 5 2% f 35 a Z 5 jg 43 22 l E 43 E .53 2

25/47 Jill-IL llllllll f3 g; 3 24 27 a0 a1 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HARM! '1. LEEMING, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW Jmsmr SOUND RECORDING MACHINE Application filed Kay 81, 1928. Serial No. 281,927.

This invention relates to apparatus for recording and reproducing sound, or for recording electrical impulses and reproducing .the same in the form of sound. Its objects are to utilize a metallic sound record in the form of a band or ribbon to receive the impulses and reproduce the same; to utilize both sides of the ribbon, to provide means for the continuous movement of the ribbon and the movement of the stylus head relative to the ribbon; other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the ribbon and associated mechanism and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism complete.

Heretofore phonograph records of the type in which sound waves are mechanically recorded on a metallic record have taken the form of a disc as shown in U. S. Patent 1,421,045, of June 27, 1922, but records in the form of a tape or band which are either non-metallic, or are not inscribed on metal are shown in U. S. Patent 939,692 of Nov. 9, 1909, and in U. S. Patent 1,442,682 of Jan. 16, 1923. The introduction of metallic records made after the process described by Wadsworth in U. S. Patent 1.421,045, June 27, 1922, has made it possible to depart from these established forms of record and to use a metallic bandor ribbon upon which a continuous spiral of sound waves or vibrations may be recorded and reproduced at will. The ribbon may take the form of a motion picture film, or typewriter ribbon which is wound from one reel onto another reel and back again while the stylus inscribes the record;

40 or it may take the form of an endless bandv as disclosed in the present application.

This has the advantage of being low in cost and having an unusually large area available for sound recording purposes so that a rec- 45 rd of this type may be run for several hours on a. continuous subject. In this form the record always moves under the stylus at a uniform speed and it has been found in practice that suitable records for the purpose of 50 this invention can be made from light gage sheet aluminum. It is found that satisfactory recording can be made on metallic records running at about one half the speed of the ordinary resinous record.

Referring to the drawings, 11 is the metallic band which is mounted on the rollers 12 55 tor shaft 25. The roller 21 is provided with collars 22 at each end which engage the edge,

or unused part of the strip 11 by friction and thus impart a steady motion to the band. An idler roller 21a is provided to oppose the roller 21 having collars 22 similar to roller 21. These rollers clamp the band thereby insuring a steady drive of the band as the drive roller 21 is rotated.

The shaft 23 carries the bevel gear 26 meshing with the bevel gear 27 on shaft 28 r0- tating in bearings 29 secured to the frame 14. Shaft 28, through the worm 30 drives the worm wheel 31 on the axis of the feed screw 32. The feed arm 34 engages this screw from below as indicated at 35 and is pivoted on the guide shaft 33 secured to frame 14. The arm 34 is counterweighted at 36 so that normally it engages the feed screw and slides on the guide shaft transversely on the band 11. The stylus arm 37 is also slidably mounted by a pivoted connection on the guide shaft 33. This pivoted connection is made on either side of the feed arm 34 so that the stylus arm is moved transversely with the feed arm as it is moved by the feed screw 32. The stylus arm 37 can be raised for a limited distance from the record without disengaging the feed arm from the feed screw owing to the lost motion at 39 in the hinge connection between 34 and 37. When raised above this limited amount the feed arm is disconnected from the feed screw and the stylus head may be moved to a new position.

The stylus arm 37 carries the stylus en- 10 gaging the groove of the record. A roller 40 mounted on shaft 41 forms a platen to support the band. This roller is provided with collars 42 and 43 which engage the edge of the band and maintain it in alignment as it is moved under the stylus.

The stylus head 38 as shown is an electric pick up of which several varieties are sold commercially. This device is constructed to receive electrical impulses and inscribe them through the stylus on the record groove, or it is constructed to respond to the indentations of the record groove and translate these into electrical impulses as shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 281,959, of even date herewith which are amplified and reproduced through a loud speaker. It is evident, of course that the stylus arm 37 may be replaced by a tone arm and recording and reproduction may be made by an air blast, as in the usual phonograph construction.

The metallic band 11 may be drawn in an endless form as shown into light sheet stock the inner side of which is also suitable for recording purposes. With this end in view a separate stylus is provided located between the upper and lower sections of the band and provided with a transverse feed for recording vibrations on the band. This comprises the stylus head 45 located above the platen roller 44 and connected by the stylus arm 46 with the transverse guide 47 and through the feed arm 34a with the screw 48 which is driven by the worm wheel 49 connected by suitable gearing with bevel wheel 26 by means not shown in the drawing. The construction and operation of this stylus head is similar to the head 38 and makes a spiral groove on the inside of the band 11 as it ismoved by the drive 25.

The shafts 15, 16 and 41 are extended on the side opposite the frame 14 to enable the rollers with the band to be moved away from the driving and stylus mechanism when the band is being replaced.

It is apparent that a metallic band or ribbon may be arranged in a variety of ways to record vibrations under a stylus and my invention contemplates the use of such variations except as limited by the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A phonograph as described comprising a pair of rollers, a metallic band mounted for movement between said rollers and a stylus engaging each surface of said band at points which are remote from each other.

2. A phonograph as described comprising a pair of rollers, an endless metallic ban-d mounted on said rollers, means for imparting continuous motion to said band and a stylus engaging the inside of said band.

3. A phonograph as described comprising a pair of rollers, a metallic band mounted on said rollers, driving means for imparting a continuous motion to said band on said rollers,

a pair of screws mounted transversely of said band and operatively connected with said driving means, guide rods parallel with said screws, feed arms mounted on said guide rods and engaging said screws, a stylus arm mounted on each of said guide rods and slidably moved thereon by said feed arms and a stylus head carried by each stylus arm one of said heads engaging said metallic band on one side and the cther head engaging said metallic band on the opposite side.

4. A phonograph as described comprising a frame with a pair of shafts, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on said shafts, a metallic band mounted on said rollers, a air of grooved rollers clamping said ban at its edges, means for rotating one of said rollers whereby a continuous 'motion is imparted to said band, means for regulating the tension of said band by adjusting the position of one of said shafts relative to said frame, stylus heads engaging each face of said band and a feeding mechanism associated with said means formoving said stylus heads transversely on said band as the band is moved.

5. A phonograph as described comprising a mechanism, a ribbon type of record having sound grooves on both sides moved longitudinally by said mechanism, certain portions of said ribbon moving in opposite direction for reproducing sound and a stylus head engaging said ribbon on each side with the styli deflected in the direction of movement-of said ribbon at the point of engagement with said ribbon.

6. A phonograph as described comprising a mechanism, a ribbon type of record moved longitudinally by said mechanism, certain portions of said record moving in opposite directions for the reproduction of sound and heads with styli engaging said portions.

7. A phonograph as described comprising a mechanism, a ribbon type of record moved longitudinally by said mechanism, certain portions of said record moving in opposite directions for the reproduction of sound, a head with a stylus engaging each portion of said record and the stylus being deflected in the direction of movement of the record.

8. A phonograph as described comprising a mechanism, a ribbon type of record moved longitudinally by said mechanism and inscribed on both surfaces with sound grooves and independent means for reproducing the sound on each side of the record.

9. A phonograph as described comprising a mechanism, a ribbon type of record moved longitudinally by said mechanism and inscribed on both surfaces with sound grooves and means for reproducing the sound on each side of said record comprising a stylus head with a stylus for each surface positioned to nism, a ribbon type of sound record having sound grooves on both surfaces driven at an active speed by said mechanism, a stylus engagin said grooves on each surface for the repro' uction of the sound and positioned to engage the record as it is driven by said mechamsm. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY T. LEEMING. 

